Construction block



Jan. 4, 1938. A. B. Dow HA1. 10 ,5815

, C O N S T R U C T I O N B L O CK Patented Jan. 4, 1938 I UNITED STATESATE T. OFFICE Alden B. Dow and 'Robert Goodall, Midland, Mich; saidGoodall assignor to said Dow lApplication November 21, 1935, Serial No.50,8517

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in construction blocks, andparticularly to blocks adapted to be used in the construction of thewalls of buildings. It has for its general object the provision of apre-cast masonry block wherewith walls presenting the-appearanceofhaving unbroken vertical joints can be constructed in which the verticaljoints between successive horizontalcourses are broken.

Another object of the invention is-to'provide a standardblocl; wherewithsingle thickness walls having a very high resistance to lateral pressurecan be constructed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a block wherewith eitherstraight or zigzag walls, and geometrically patterned walls, can beconstructed. 7

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends the invention,'then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and following descriptionsetting forth in detail the block embodying the invention, suchconstituting, however, but several of description various forms in whichthe principle of the invention may be utilized.

In said annexed drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view of two of our blocksshowing them in the position which they occupy as normally used in awall construction. Figures 2 and 3 are, respectively, aside elevationand an end elevation of one of the blocks shown in Figure 1. I a Figure4 is 'a plan view of our corner block. Figures 5 and 6 are,respectively, a side elevation and a joint-face elevation of the cornerblock shown in Figure 4. f

Figures 7 and 8 are isometric views of partially constructed wallsshowing the relationship after assembly, between the straight blockshown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and the corner block shown in Figures 4,5, and 6. l

Our blocks are'substantially hexahedral prisms which areadapted to beembossed on the exposed faces thereof; In the drawing we haveillustrated the exposed faces of .all of our related blocks as providedwith protuberant portions presenting a plane surface, said protuberancesbeing beveled on all their edges at an angle of approximately 45particular form of embossing, since any-desired ornamentation may beemployed without disv to the plane of the exposed side faces of theblock; but we do not limit ourselves to thisvertical alignment when theblocks are laid in the horizontalcourses, thereby to permit dowel:- lingand successive horizontal courses together if desired; a

Our blocks are. cast in permanentmolds, and may be made of concrete,cinder-base, clay, or other suitable materials. It is possible toincorporate pigments with the material from which the block is made, atthe time of casting, to-pro, duce blocks colored in any desired manner.The molds can be recessed to provide suitable ema bossing on the exposedfaces of the blocks. The blocks can be laid .;up, in successivehorizontal hydraulic mortaryetc. I a V The straight block illustratedspecifically in Figures 1, 2, and 3 is in the, shape of a rightparallellpiped, whereof the perimeters of the bases are congruentoblique parallelograms' which have supplementary anglesof substantially45 and 135, and the ratio of the altitude of either base to the lengthof the longer side thereof is approximately 1 to 2 Thus, in'Figure l,the acute angles 4t and :42 of the parallelogram constitutingtheperimeter of onebase of our straight block are angles of approximately-45. We have, howevenfoundit advantageous in practice to modify the shapein plan section of the straightblock slightly from that of a trueparallelogram.- Thus; as seen in clevationfromthe line 46 on thejointface 45of the block, the face is-struck' off-toward the side faceof the block at a very slight angle from the true diagonal. The oppositeend face is also struck off at acorresponding angle toward the oppositeside face. This provides a tapering crevice 47 between adjacent blocksin a bed or horizontal course for holding the bonding agent. The widthof the block between side faces d l is proportioned to the length of theblock between the oblique end faces in the ratio of 1 to 2, i. e.- in ablock six inchesin width the length of the block courses with anysuitable bonding agent, such as is approximately 12 inches.

As illustrated in plan,..the straight block is made with triangularshaped voids as, which construction, althoughlpreferablais' notessential,

since the blocks may be made solid or have void's' of other shapes. Itwill be noted that the voids; in the straight blocks, and as well in allother blocks employed in our constructions, line up be-, tweensuccessive beds, permitting the dowelling of blocks together withconcrete and reinforcing bars to form lintels, columns, etc., where itis' necessary to' resist'heavy strains. permits great flexibility suchas fireplaces, etc., mental grilles.

We preferably provide the respective side faces 44 of the straight blockwith raised portions beveled on all edges, e. g. 48 and 49, at an angleof about 45. This gives a decorative appearance in spanning openings.and constructing; orna-- Tms feature 50 anu tms includes the twoblocksin the lower mental effects may be employed on the side surfaces4l such as geometric pattern designs,

imitationstonefinislies, .etc.. a V

Thestraight block illustrated in Figures 1, 2,

and 3 is used as a field block in straight wallsrj The straight blocksmitre to form the corners thefacesllofthe 's'tralljghtiblock. The

in alternate horizontal courses; in the other courses two straightblockscombirie with a corner block to form a corner. Thehetraightbloclgamay. also be used to obtain certain orn eme lt l. eifects, suchas pierced masonry grilles, niches, etc. The corner block illustratedin-Figures. 4;. 5;

and 6 is a substantially righttriangular prism,

whereof the perimeters of the bases are substantially right isoscelestriangles. The edges 50 and 5Ia of the faces 50 and 5| of saidtriangles,

hi'ch include the right angle, correspond-in length to th length 01 thesids N of the oblique pairallelogr ari1'sv which form the bases of ourstraight block. The e gposed faces and 5} or dexaqtlyin size to vdiagonal rage 52 0i thecdrfner block is struck oil-towardacii face-5o ad if at every 'slightangle, beginningat'the li'ries ig andSfiresriectiteli, as were the end rates of the straight block, toprovide a more suitable crevice forthbdiidihg agent beour"corne'r blockcorrespon tween the-adjacent blocks i a bed.

' The corner 'blocl'g'is used. in alterhatecourses to bond miners; Itisin pairsto' form square piers a'nd"1intelsfs clijlihtl's Dreierably beinreinforced! It is also used'i'naltrnate courses" ma zigzag Wall. 7 4

Figures '7" and 8 show is" formedfi'eading ffom left} toiig'ht} of twoare; "t'fbloclis'l a earlier block; we] st ght blocli'sfa'cornerbldcklnot:shown} ,"anda strai ght block: "secjcjmtl horizontalcourse directly there'aboveis mmanent-flew of straight bloclcs,couise'oi fg 1 e7. 'The'third s'uccessive hori- -j zoii tfal'cEiur's'eIis, again sinnle'r' to fthatof the ma; anathema. t mmate.1311?! pasm: mgfirerz; 'r'ejaging from: leftto of two str i b k er'ller mea s. ti e. s rai h users; a corner block, an dastraight block.

t. w l e .Qte tha l iv l al ioi is an neho on a course r m peralleltoeach other, i d that alljjointain thehorizontal courseimm ately above.anibeli wthe first course run all.v tle lath int l l ..1.-fl urse apdparallel msacaon to -form a brokenver tical. joint; the .wall 1structure to feifefcta bond I 911 aessq app yin thefprincipleiof. our. nen lmm ysb empleyedinstead-of those .ex-

following. claimslbe used.

n w the; straight block;

' a l d es;

We'distinctly point out and claim as our invention:

1. A wall structure having broken vertical joints comprising successivehorizontal courses of; blocks; the bases. of said blgclgsbeingcongruent, oblique parallelograms which havevsup'plementary angles ofsubstantially and 135 and a ratio between the altitude of either of saidparallelo- 1 grams tg the length of the longer side thereof of"approximately 1 to 2,- said blocks being ari l iin:

ac}; course so that the. acute angles of; tnev bases oi a.;bl.ock lieadjacent the obtuse in the same horizontal course, said acute anglesbeing,.;als o in superimposed relationship to the obtuse angles of thebases 0; bloclgs inthe course immediately therebelow, whereby thewal lstructure presents on each side the appearance or havl l' b l sli al i li s a I A W 3"'$ r PP'Y PS bro sell .vert ca joints comprisingsuccessive horizontal coul'SQS. ir l e l th we 5P iP1QQkP IBS con ruen bque. b lellel s a zlsiwlilsh haveisl p lem m tary angles ofsubst'antially 4 5" and 135 and a r i w e h altitud 9 .e henh se'. Q; saemll osrl myt he. eesil i; he. q ser'. si e them erl .lll aie y..li eien tlle i diaees are struck oil. ata relatiyely small angles of thebases of each of the adjacent blocks of said blocks allel r mi lsapproxima e. er ical 1 c t sr i: tewerd lle we .ens eso said. b iq e lee l ma, sai lasts. b in ar anged each course so that the acute angle of'the bases of a block lie adjacentthe gbtuseang les'of the" ases. 'ae l.llee i leb ohks lathe amei fleq liel. we aid; lit? ellslesibelne also ljla r lllpes dre ei. nam the obtuse. n e f he a ses; ,b s ss la. the. l re m esl a ely. hele lewi wlle sp the. .well. inlelllre r s nt eaellsi lt aeeeare lce eI-havlasfunh 'ok verticaljoints;

"a. A building block substantially nju shape.

. a lerepttlie-pilniet rs 1in" lateral sections parallel tothebasesthereotform p ....l8, l l' ll which h tantially 135, and theratio aillateral ections parallel tothe bases thereof form congruentoblique parallelograms which. have btuse angles 1 slllzs alll e ly. 3 nt ratiooi the altitude of said .parallelograms to'the ell illo h .Qeer.. l,de h ell1.l$ brexl' at ly 9. 9.. ate l .890.5 4. ide. ac s ofthe a e 19ers e rlsledn h enlle l t l la he el sl aces he o ke 0. 1.:slel vellis lle l lle e omapproximetal! hewexti al entel. her olldwardsthe a ut a e e of. sa d l ll l .e. ara lel a n having, a'diagonalbrace member extendi ng. sub-..

angles.

' lli lie en' he ep les f saldlobtlllle a. now... 393%?

